Be the
KEY CLUB OFFICERS
2015
2016
Be the
KEY CLUB OFFICERS
Be the Vice President
So you’ve been elected vice president. Congratulations! We’re
sure your head is filled with hopes and ideas . . . and maybe even some anxiety. Well, Key Club International is here to
help. We know how important this role is to you—and how
many ways there are to be an effective leader. To be a great
vice president, you’ll be a supporter. You’ll be a recruiter. You’ll
be a designer. And more. With this guide, we have provided
tools and information to help you succeed in all the roles that
make up the vice president’s position. You will get ideas for
the jobs and tasks associated with your new role. Of course,
we’ll also support you throughout your term via the Key Club
International website, social media and mailings. You also
have district-level resources—so check your district website
to make sure you know how to contact your lieutenant governor and any other useful district officer. In the meantime,
the most important thing we can say is: be yourself. You were
elected to this role because people believe in you. You may
feel some pressure to step into the shoes of last year’s leaders. It’s only natural. But don’t lose sight of your own gifts and
skills. Be the best you that you know how and you can’t fail.
Good luck!
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KEY CLUB OFFICERS
Be the Supporter
One aspect of being the vice president is that they will probably be involved in a wider variety of projects and with a wider variety of people than potentially anyone else on the executive board. The vice
president helps ensure that the duties of the president are carried out if he or she is unable to fulfill
them. The vice president also helps ensure the club runs smoothly as a whole. The vice president must
be invested and involved because at any given point there may be the need to step into action.
In order to help the other officers it is important to review some of the same information they were
provided. Doing so will better prepare you for your role. We have also included some information within
your guide that may be beneficial for the president to review. You may consider having a meeting with
your club president and advisors to help establish your role for the year. They may each have some
ideas about how you can help your club excel. Be open about the gifts and skills you possess and how
they can benefit your club. Be sure to talk with others on the executive board to understand how you
might be able to best support them in their roles.
The worst thing a vice president can do in your role is wait for work to come to them. Being proactive
about supporting the club officers and members will make the greatest difference in helping your club
succeed.
Be the Delegator
We shared the information about being a delegator with your club president, but we want to share it
with you, too. In your role you will encourage and assist in the delegation of tasks to committees and
members, so you should start thinking now about what delegation really means.
Delegating can be a challenging but necessary part of your role. It is important to remember you are
only one part of a team and you’ll need to trust others on your team to contribute to the success of your
club. When delegating keep in mind:
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Be sure you set clear expectations, responsibilities and limitations. Keep people connected
throughout the process to the overall club goals and create individual project goals.
Be sure to include your advisor in the process. They may have ideas about whom to assign tasks
and what kind of guidance to give.
Choose appropriate tasks. Your club is filled with a variety of talents and skills. Give people the
chance to work on projects and tasks that will fit well with individual skills and interests. Also be
sure to maximize your potential for success by giving your club members a voice in decision making, allowing them to offer input on how best to accomplish a specific task—and using that feedback as much as possible.
Make sure you are being supportive and trustful, not overbearing and nosy. When you
assign a task, allow people to learn through the experience and avoid looking over their shoulder
or micromanaging.
Be the Vice President
Be the Recruiter
One thing that every club needs to succeed is members. With a
variety of activities and clubs in each school it can sometimes be
hard to get people’s attention and get them interested in your
club. Help lead your club to success through member recruitment.
Although recruiting new members should be everyone’s job it
helps to set up a team of about 5-10 people who will focus on
recruitment. The recruitment team should be well-trained on how
to persuade people to join. Before getting started set recruitment
goals for your club. Some good recruitment goals may include how
many members you’d like to see or how many new members from
which grades. Before beginning each recruitment, pull together resources to help your club stand out and to help people learn more.
You can create your own resources or explore ideas at keyclub.org.
You want to also consider what methods you want to share your
message. Information tables in public spaces, school newspapers,
flyers and social media are all great ways to get the word out about
Key Club. Lastly remember that while you may focus your efforts to
the beginning of each semester, recruitment for your club is a year
round effort.
The first responsibility of a leader is to
define reality. The last is to say thank you.
In between, the leader is a servant.
MAX DEPREE
Grants for projects:
Did you know that your club can receive up to
US$2000 in grants from Key Club International for
your service projects through the Youth Opportunities Fund? More information and applications can
be found at keyclub.org/yof and are due annually
on October 15. There is one grant cycle per year.
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KEY CLUB OFFICERS
Be the Designer
We don’t mean graphic design, we mean committee design. One common role assigned to vice presidents is overseeing the committee system. The committees will be the main opportunity you and the
president have to delegate responsibilities. Designing a strong committee system can build a strong
foundation for your club, and help ensure your annual goals are achieved. When designing committees keep the following in mind:
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Utilize the member information form to determine what committees each member would like to
serve on.
Assign all members to serve on at least one committee. Work with the president and advisor to
make assignments.
Establish an expectation that committee meetings will occur monthly at club meetings.
Attend the monthly meetings of the committees as an ex officio member and advisor.
Collect all monthly committee reports and turn them in to the secretary.
Encourage each member to be active on a committee.
Be sure each committee is aware of local, district, and international resources available to them.
Suggested committees:
Kiwanis family relations committee
Works with the sponsoring Kiwanis club and other members of the Kiwanis family to plan joint service,
social and fundraising projects.
Public relations committee
Works to make Key Club a household name through club newsletters, school and local media, marketing campaigns for service projects, and fundraisers. This committee works closely with the editor.
Program committee
Brings interesting speakers, films and entertainment to Key Club meetings and educates all members
about what Key Club is and does.
Project committee
Initiates and implements all service projects.
Social committee
Plans and promotes fellowship activities (dances, parties, etc.), coordinates birthday celebrations and
works with club officers to recognize members for their hard work.
Membership development committee
Helps invite members into the club, encourage high attendance at all club events and works with the
public relations committee to create materials for recruitment.
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Be the Vice President
Each committee will need to have an appointed chairperson who will be responsible for
the following:
• Ensures every member of the committee has a clear understanding of the committee’s authority
and function.
• Knows what resources are available.
• Knows to whom he or she is responsible, to whom he or she reports and the channels of reporting.
In most clubs, committee chairpersons report to the vice president.
• Makes sure his or her committee members and advisor know in advance when and where committee meetings will take place.
• Makes an agenda for every committee meeting.
• Observes deadlines.
• Keeps records.
• Works with the committee; not above them.
• Evaluates himself or herself and the committee regularly.
• Stays on topic.
• Isn’t too formal.
• Is accepting of different ideas.
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As a leader, I am tough on myself and I raise the standard for everybody; however, I am very caring because I want people to excel at
what they are doing so that they can aspire to be me in the future.
INDRA NOOYI
Tip:
Did you know Key Club International has hundreds of service project ideas available for you? You can
download the service project directory from keyclub.org/service. The service project directory outlines
projects by the level of difficulty and gives some guidance in planning. The directory also provides some
projects related to Key Club’s preferred charities and global initiatives. You can also find service projects
that are designed to be easily integrated into your Key Club meeting so you can have members perform
on the spot service.
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KEY CLUB OFFICERS
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Develop your official duties
As mentioned before, the vice president has the unique opportunity to help the club by being flexible to meet the needs of
their club and fellow officers. Use the spaces below and to the
right to work with your club president and advisor to establish
your role for the year.
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Be the Vice President
Be the Advocator
Helping organize projects and programs can be a huge part of your role. One major area of focus for
Key Club is service-related projects and programs. When planning service projects, ensure they have
value and meaning by including the Five Critical Elements of Thoughtful Community Service.*
1. Seek out community needs. Make sure that you do some research about the needs your in community before you start planning a project. Reach out to local organizations like United Way or other
community groups for ideas.
What it looks like: Your city reduces the budget for the animal shelter. Your members are animal
lovers, so you contact an animal shelter to see how your club can help.
2. Educate members. Inform your members about the community need you’ve discovered, the
group you’ll be working with, and why it’s important for your club to help. If they know the value of
their service, they’ll be more motivated to participate.
What it looks like: Someone from the animal shelter is invited to speak at your club meeting before
the project, or you show a video about the topic.
3. Respond to the need. Now it’s time to take action! Keep your members motivated throughout the
project by sharing encouraging words and reminding them of the difference they’ll be making.
What it looks like: Thanks to your club, dogs are happier and the facility is cleaner. The staff is thankful
and members know their work has made a difference.
4. Reflect. Reflection should happen immediately after the project to discuss reactions, share stories,
and explore feelings. A good reflection experience allows members to process what they did, why it
was important, and how the service they did was meaningful to them. Check out training resources
on keyclub.org to help you lead reflection activities with your group.
What it looks like: At the next club meeting, a couple of members who are not officers share what they
did and how the service experience affected their lives. Other members show pictures or videos they took.
Some members might even realize their love for animals could one day become a career opportunity.
5. Evaluate and celebrate. After your group reflection, evaluate your experience with fellow club
members. Was it successful? What would you have done differently to make it more successful?
Evaluation gives direction for improvement, growth, and change.
What it looks like: The majority of your club comes to the animal shelter project, and the agency asks
for your service again. You decide to make this an ongoing project.
*Adapted from a publication of the Campus Outreach Opportunity League.
Tend to the people, and they will tend to the business.
JOHN MAXWELL
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KEY CLUB OFFICERS
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Checklists
weekly
monthly
annual
ASSIST THE PRESIDENT IN
LEADING THE CLUB.
ATTEND ALL MEETINGS OF THE
PROJECT COMMITTEE AS A COUNSELOR AND EX OFFICIO MEMBER.
ACQUAINT YOURSELF WITH
THE PRESIDENT’S DUTIES SO
YOU CAN ASSIST HIM OR HER.
MONITOR THE
COMMITTEE SYSTEM.
ASSIST SECRETARY IN COLLECTION OF MONTHLY COMMITTEE
REPORTS.
RECEIVE ALL MATERIALS AND
POSSIBLE HELP FROM THE PAST
VICE PRESIDENT OF YOUR CLUB.
ATTEND THE CLUB’S BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETINGS.
ASSIST IN MEMBER
RECRUITMENT.
MAKE SURE THE CLUB SECRETARY
MAILED THE CLUB MONTHLY
REPORTS TO DISTRICT OFFICERS.
CONDUCT AN EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM FOR NEW MEMBERS.
ASSIST EDITOR IN COLLECTING
ARTICLES OR INFORMATION FOR
PUBLICATIONS.
ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL
TRANSITION OF THE NEW
VICE PRESIDENT TO THE ROLE.
NOTE TO SELF
NOTE TO SELF
NOTE TO SELF
Be the Vice President
Know your resources
Key Club Officer and Advisor guides are printed on Lynx EarthChoice® paper from Domtar. EarthChoice®
means increasing responsibility throughout the entire paper life cycle—from the forest, through responsible production, usage and recycling. Domtar works closely with leading NGOs—including the
Rainforest Alliance and World Wildlife Fund—to create more responsible forest management practices.
Key Club International wants to help you succeed—so we’re providing as many resources as possible.
Listed below are just a few you might consider as your executive board brainstorms ways to support and
build your club. You can find more resources at keyclub.org or through the weekly Key Club email.
Not receiving the weekly email? Have your club advisor or secretary update your email address in
the Membership Update Center at keyclub.org/muc.
Service ideas
Partners
Idealist.org – idealist.org
Volunteer Match – volunteermatch.org
Hands on Network – handsonnetwork.org
Youth Serve America – ysa.org
National Youth Leadership Council – nylc.org
Project Happiness – projecthappiness.org
Volunteer Canada – volunteer.ca
Canadian Volunteer Directory –
canadian-universities.net/Volunteer
Did you know Key Club International has
preferred charities and partnerships that can
offer you great opportunities for service to
your community or abroad?
For more information on partnerships and
preferred charities visit:
keyclub.org/partners
Key Leader
There are lots of great places to learn more about leadership. Did you know
there is a special program for Key Club students to learn about leadership, make
new friends and learn about what it means to pursue excellence? Key Leader
is a weekend leadership development experience open to any high school student who is interested in leadership. Many clubs also find that their sponsoring
Kiwanis Club, local businesses or school will help them pay the registration fee.
You can learn more about Key Leader and what programs are happening in
your area at key-leader.org.
Key Club acronyms:
Below is a list of our most commonly used acronyms.
AAR — Annual Achievement Report
CKI — Circle K International
CMN — Children’s Miracle Network
DCON — District Convention
ICON — International Convention
IP — Immediate Past
KCI — Key Club International
LTG — Lieutenant Governor
OTC — Officer Training Conference
YOF — Youth Opportunities Fund
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GIKC-1114-6
A Key Club International program of Kiwanis International.
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